For much of this season as Liverpool have been parked in the Premier League top two or three, I've been hearing reasons why they won't stay there.

So, just for a change, here's a reason why they might...or in fact, three reasons: Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho.

Look around English football right now, and is there a better front three? Seriously, you can make a case for others, but is there an attacking line up that very obviously surpasses the class - and more importantly - form of that trio?

City go close of course. Sergio Aguero is a top striker, and David Silva when fit is one of the most sublime and insistent creative forces in the game. But he's not been fully fit for quite some time.

Chelsea have their problems, United's are even worse , Spurs are bedding in and while Arsenal's front three have undoubtedly done well, they don't have the ruthlessness in front of goal of Anfield's finest.

Interestingly, it is perhaps Everton who, alongside City, run them closest. Romelu Lukaku provides something most teams don't have, which is a physical presence backed by technique...something, ironically, Chelsea so desperately need.

(Image: Jan Kruger)

Ross Barkley is going to be a top star, as is Gerard Deulofeu - and you can bank on that one - while Kevin Mirallas and Steven Pienaar are both far better than people realise.

Yet you'll have spotted there is a fundamental flaw in the reasoning here, they are a front four, not three. And they don't have the goals of Liverpool's attack.

Quietly, Coutinho has been progressing towards the level of the top player too, and sometimes the things he does make you simply sit back and smile, such is the sheer joy of his talent.

He makes teams nervous because he takes the ball - and the game - to them, and makes them commit. Defences hate committing, especially when Suarez is prowling the space along the line.

Sturridge is fragile it's true, his injury record not good for a player of his obvious athletic ability, but there is no doubting his record in front of goal, and he will be hungry when he returns in the New Year .

You can bet he has watched Suarez's recent goals blitz just a little enviously, and will be bursting to match it when he comes back. That competition was a key feature of Liverpool's goalscoring prowess in the first half of the season.

A front three doesn't make a team of course. And without Steven Gerrard Brendan Rodgers' side - and the coach's management skills - will be severely tested over the holiday period.

(Image: John Powell)

But here's a thought. Manchester United won the title last season despite obvious and massive flaws that have become increasingly evident after the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. How? Because their weaknesses were hidden by the quality of Van Persie and Rooney.

When you have two players scoring so many goals, anything is possible. And if Sturridge can stay fit from now on, then there's every chance Liverpool's pair will score even more than United's front line managed last season.

The title is probably beyond the Reds, not least because history suggests you have to fail in a fight for the Premier League before you can take that final step towards glory...and it is a long time before they were actually involved in a title race.

Yet that is not the aim this season...a place in the top four is. To achieve that, they will probably need a points tally in the low 70s. So far, they have 30 in 15 matches, which at two points a game means they are well on course for that.

And even with their evident defensive flaws, a front line as talented as Liverpool boast is capable of scoring enough goals to deliver the remaining 40 or so more points required to finally get back into the Champions League. And you know what, you don't have to be overly optimistic to believe that.